The Helena Ranger District of the Helena National Forest (HNF), located in west central Montana, is proposing changes to the existing road and motorized trail systems on National Forest System lands in the Divide Area. The Divide Area includes approximately 155,480 acres of public land located in Lewis & Clark and Powell counties. The area encompasses Black Mountain and extends to the Tenmile Drainage over to the Little Blackfoot /Bison Mountain Area. Also included are four inventoried roadless areas: Electric Peak, Jericho Mountain, Lazyman, and Nevada Mountain.

The purpose of this project is to designate roads, motorized trails and motorized over-snow areas in the Divide Planning Area. Changes to the transportation system in the Divide area on the Helena National Forest are part of a larger, nationwide effort by the Forest Service to update travel plans on all of the National Forests.

Proposed changes to the Divide Travel Area: Routes & Rationale

Provide Motorized Trail Opportunity/Motorized Access - Currently there are few motorized trail opportunities in the Divide Planning Area. Several organizations and individuals identified that additional motorized trails would be desirable. This effort identifies a few additional designated motorized trails.

Enhance inventoried roadless/recommended wilderness areas - There are open motorized routes that are located within Inventoried Roadless Areas and one route enters an HNF Plan Recommended Wilderness Area. Several organizations have identified these areas through the travel planning process.

- Affected Routes: Relocation of the parking area near Black Mountain and reduce motorized use at the north end of Electric Peak

Resource Issues - Several routes have been identified for closures that are priorities to achieve resource benefits. Resource issues that resulted in changes include soil and watershed problems, fisheries concerns and wildlife security problems, or a combination of these.

- Affected Routes: Some routes were closed to address fisheries and resource concerns. Other routes were opened to accommodate public/recreation use.

Note: Some routes may be temporarily closed (usually springtime) due to wet road conditions to prevent rutting and road damage.

Reduce Complexity of Current Forest Visitor Map - The current visitor map includes 18 different travel restriction types and seasons. Reducing seasonal restrictions will result in an easier, less complex map to use and improved compliance by Forest users.

Maps are also available for review at the Helena Ranger District and Forest Supervisors Office, and the Lewis & Clark County public library. If you would like a map, please contact the Helena Ranger District at 406-449-5490.